Rim for vehicle-wheels.



R. S. BRYANT.

HIM FOR v EHiCLE WHEELS. APPucmoN man A1 n 25.1912.

A 1,278,430. Patentedsepf. 10.1918.'

\ 2 SHEETS-SHEET l- R. S. BRYANT. RIMA FOR VEHICLE WHEELS. Pruckrlon msn APR. 25. mz.

\ 1,278,430. Patented sept. y10, 1918.

zrvsnsETs-slnnnz.

STATES 'PATENT OFFICE.

nioHAlm s. animer, `or CLEVELAND, omo, Assrenon, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, To THE STANDARD' PAa'rs COMPANY, or CLEvELAND, omo, A ConPonATroN or omo.

To all whom t may concern."

Be it known that l', RICHARD S. BRYANT, a citizen of thaUnited States, .residing at Cleveland, in the county' of Cuyahogaand Stato of Ohio, haveinvented acertain new and useful Improvement in Rims for Vehicle-Wheels, of which the following` is a full, clear,andexact description` reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

Thisrinvention relates to rims for vehicle Wheels ofthe type designed to Secure .i pneumatic or other -resilient tire in place thereon and permit the ready removal of the same. therefrom for purposes of repair or replacement. According` to the usual contemporary practice, such rims invariably take the form of a. circular band embracing the wheel fellv and provided 'with outwardly :projectingl lateral flangesradapted to.' engage the sides of the tire, these fiangeshaving different shapes according to the .particular type of' tire 'with which 'they Aarc-to; b e used- The "stiffness and rigidity of the-tire renders its removal ver)7 difficult in case these rims and theirfla'n'ges befln'ade in -one piece, since such construction necessitate that the tire be expanded` so as to be prie/d over theanges obviate this difficulty, several expedient-s have beenlproposed 'chief among which are: the contractinof the rim by .the removal of a portion, or theoverlapping of the ends thereof, so as to avoid the necessity for stretching =the tire; the formation of the rimin' two 4parte 4which4 are'detachablv connected -togeth i 4 4'coinci'din'gfvvith the p ane of the Wheel; `the erfalon a line substantiallyv foz'matioro'f one-of the flanges separate m `thefrifnl sothat the same can bereadilv detached and thetire removed from the dat riml base jwithV f eoinparatvel tion. x Itiswith the -lastof tese expedients Vthat the inventipnloftm i resent 'applica-l tion is elonce ned, and it wil be noted that whereas two` expediente necessitate the' employment of a vdemo'nntable or removf ableriln, the-deviceof my' invention is independent-ofthe method' ofifsecnring the rim The objects of the invention are the provision of'novehzand` simplified mechanism for the se'cnre tachnlent otthis detachable little opposi;

am. Foa VEHICLE-WHEELS.

ASpeeiilcatlon of Letters Patent.- Patented Spt., 1,0,.1918

Application flied April 25,1912. Serial No. 693,078.

Range to the rim with which it; is used: the provision of attaching means which inav he .readilydisconnectcd when occasion shall arise without the necessity 'for the employment of an)r special toolswoth'er than those which the operator always possesses, and which shall be proof against. accidental dis connection or against being rendered inoperatlve b v rust` dirt, ice, or other vforeign matter: the provision of securing means all of which are permanently attached either' to the .rim or to the fiange sothat. there shall bc nothing which can be lost o1' lnislaid; the provision of attaching means which` while perfectly secure under all incidents of use, will ofiier the least possible obstruction to theremoval of the fiange; the provision of securing .means which shall permit thel reversal of the fia-nge so as to permit tires of different shapes to be employed; while further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the course of the following description and claims. More specificallyy this, invention is an improvement upon. anyl of the modes of fastoningV disclosed or claimed in my prior application filed May 'l, 1911, Sent No. 625,078`

Generally speakingmy inventionl may be defined as consisting of the combinations `of elements recited in the claims hereto an-Y nexed and illustrated in the drawings form ing a. part hereof, wherein; Figure 1 represents a sidel elevation of a portion of a vehicle wheel having a rim made in "accordanco with my invention; Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken upon the broken line "2 2 of Fig, 1 drawn to .larger sealer-Fig. 3

is aLside elevation of a portion of a rim constructed "inf accordance with my invention, certain pa rts `being broken away to illustrate more clearly the flange-secu ring1 megu'is;` Fig.

'4i `is a cross sectional View taken, snbstantially uponthe line --l-l of Fig. 1; Fig. l5 is sectional view taken upon the broken line 8 8 of Fig. 7 and drawn to larger scale; Fig. 9 is a view showing the same parts as Fig. 7 Ibut inreverse'position; Fig. 10 is a. cross'sectional view taken uponthe broken line 10'-10 of Fig. 9, the parts being drawn to larger scale; Fig. l1 represents a side elevation of still another modified forni, parts being broken away as shown in Figs. 3 and 7; and Fig. 12 is a perspective view'of the securing latch employed with the last modification.

Describing the parts by reference characters, 1 represents the felly of a wheel, which may be of .wood as in the usual construction or of any other suitable material, and 2 indi- Cates generally a metallic tire receiving rim surrounding the same. ln Figs. l, 2 and 4 hereof this rim is illustrated as mounted on a metallic felly band 3 having outwardly projecting flanges 4. at its sides, the attachinent between the two being effected by any convenient or suitable means, such for example as that shown in my copending application filed May f1, 1911, Ser. No. 625,078, now Patent No. 1,237,613 of August 21, 1917. In Figs. 8 and 10 hereof I have illustrated this rini as secured directly about the felly without. the interposition of any separate felly band. My present invention concerns merely the rim, and the manner of securing that rim to the Wheel has no'be'aring upon -this case.

Referring particularly to Figs'. 1 to 6 hereof, it will be seen that this rim consists-'of a transversely flat, endless, metallic member 5 having'at oneside the outwardly projecting flange 6 here -shown as curvedl inwardly so as to engage. the bead of a tire of the clencherV type, and having its opposite lateral portion depressed to form .a

groove 7, the shape whereof is preferably like that disclosed and claimed in my prior application N o625,078, hereinbefore mentioned. Briefly' stated, this -groove isv formed.- bg rolling the-'metal soi-, ato produce an. a r

upt Wall 8 at the side'ajacent to the flat portion. 5 of lthe rim, and a rounded wall 9 at the opposite side, the upper edge ofthe saidy outer .wallv being not higherthan the I fiat surface'- of the band 5. This. wall-.is .preferably formed upon't'he arc of ecirc ewhose center lies substantially in the plane` ofthe wall 8 and at or slightly above lthesurface ofthe band 5..,f-"Inth1s-.f cove is secured the removable,o ,detahab e 'flange'10, which a baser g.-body.portiona dapted to fit securely w-i "in the groove 7, and ain outwardly extending tion-1.1 .complementary to the ange- 6.'. fihi formof /a-"Splitrin the closely abutting ends-thereof being il ustratedatlE, andthe method/inf. securing-this ring in the groove aperture 17. The projection 16 is substantially radial" sf'fiange, is made in the remov "Wit the partsin th 10 adjacent 'to each ofllits ends is a projection, one of these projections being ilustra-ted at 15 and the other at 16, and the bottom wall of thegroove 7 '1s formed With apertures 17 and 18 for the rece tion of these side o the aperture 17 is notched through the. wall 8 as shown at 19, andthe projection 15 is deflected laterally asV shown 1n Figs. 4 and 5 so asi/to fit within the portion.19 of this aperture, .the side of the rojection being formed to hook beneath tlie e ofthis notch as shown at 20. The opposite side of the projection is rounded as at 21,-for a purpose to be hereinafter explained, the great-l est width of tha'projection'l `being everywherev not greater thanl the 4'width of the as shown in Fig. 3 and lies substantially in the plane of the ringas'shown in Fig. 2. The length of the projection is such as to cause it to fit snug 'into the .aperture 18, the forward end o this projection being formed substantially upon the radius of the ring' for its whole/height as shown at 24, the rearward Wall being also radial for a short distance as shown at 25. The. remainder of the rear side of the projection is beveled awayas at 26. The forward side of the projeotionjis formed with a notch 27, defining' a toe 28, 'the inner edge of said notchmbei-ngspaced from thesurface of the its aperture. The opposite end of the latch is extended for a considerable distance from the pivot; as shown at and is provided .with 'a stud 3 3 adapted toenter an aperture 34`iforld`in-thesbott@ wallof the groove and to be retained thereiiibyithe resilience of the latch. The ortion-ofthelatchfintermediate*between t e pivot 30 .and stud 33 `is 'preferably offset or deflected so as 'to be projections respectively. T e inner.

spaced from the 4rimas 'at 35, and thispor- I tlon 'is'formedwith4 a notch or slot 3,6 'o1' .v

other suitable abutment 'for the reception of the blade of a screwdriver or like remov- 120 ing. tool;I The wall 9,;01 the .groove is, also forniedwith a notch 3:7 ad`acent to the recess 18, the ring 10 being, iA desired,-.vorrned l with a similar notch 'adaptedtoiregister therewith, this construction being-adopted.

to permit the introduction-of ascrew driver rom the groove.-

Fi fif'tbe desired-to removethedetachab e iange, a..screw` driver is first introor. likeirl .ing tool whereby theringinay be e positionsliwn l duced between the wall 9 and the latch so as to engage in the slot 36. This slot not only lnnits `the introductionof the screwdriver to the .amount necessary for the operation, but also permits theblade to engage the same so as to pry the stud 33 from its aperture and! swing the end of thelatch outwardly away from therim and disengage the forward tion 15 as a center so as to disengage the hook portion 20 of this projection from the wall of the notch 19, the-rounded side 21 of the projection .passingralong the outer side of the aperture 17, whereupon the projection 15 can be removed radially and the flange entirely detached. The application of the fi ange involves the same operations in the reverse direction, the projection 15 hgng first introduced into its aperture 17 with the ange in inclined position, the body of the I ring then' seated progressivelyr in the groove unt-il' the projection 16 is reached, whereupon the camming action of the inclined portion. 26- talren in connection with the contracting `tendel'icy of the ring, will cause the ends `of the ring toy be drawn together and the projection 16 to be fully seated in its aj'ierture..` The latch- 31 is then swung into the position shown in Fig. 3,-whereupon all parts are .in condition for service. The space 35 between the latch and rlm prevents the formation of rust at this point, and hinders the collection of foreign matter, while the location of the latchentirely within the edge of-A the rim 'renders it safe from accidental disengagement by Contact with` obstructions In Fig. 5 I have illustrated an expedlent by means of which l provide aseating sun face for the reception and greater protectionI of the latch 31. To'this'end I press'the buttom of the groove 7 downwardly so as to form a fiat surface, fl() forthe recep'tionhof the latch. This operation may either be effected by means of dies whereby the deformation of the groove is limited only to the portions immediately adjacent the apertures 17 and 18, or by rolling the rim so as to form the groove in this manner at all points. -In either case the upper portion of the outer wall 9 will retain thesanie' curved shape. and

the operation of theabutting surfacesthere;V vof will be the same as inthe previous case.

In Figs. to 10A-of the drawings I'l have Ser. No. V625,078 before referred t. The' aperture 17a. TheV shape of thef rojection 16 is exactly the vsame las that the" pro- A apertures 17 and 18*and' the bottom'jwallof :the i groovel is formed'Willian' illustrated `the application of my improved securing mreansto a case whereinljit iside-Llsiredto make the flange reversible ,soi-'esitoperlmt the use ,tluireoiA with tireso'fdifferenti;` shape, sueltas ,thoseof;theffclenchei and.' straight` wall 'varieties'. -.',lnfthiscase alf rim is provided having fatransversly dat curvedportion 5 as beforia'gone;s-idethereof being provided withfafjf mparatively,,shale-'f low outstanding.li1 6, l and 4theiother.sida-.1..` withl a Vdepressed groove-portion i7,.the; {.{Ifoove` being symmetrical, j. andy the (walls thereof as well as theblip.(iv-flaringvout wardly vat a smalll a'nglegz" preferably about4 sixdegrees. Surrounding the portin. ofrf the rim, adjacent to thevlipfffis'a 4loose vor' fioating ring 50, the twosides'whereof are* shaped to conform substantially torthe sidesof the tires with which the rimis to/beiused4 as shown in Figs. 8 to 10; Seated inthe Y groove 7 is a removable or detachable .flange` 85 10, having a base or body"portionv adapted to fit securely `Within the -groove-7-"andan outwardly extending portion 11",-the' sides whereof are sha ed similarly to the sides of the ring A50. he outer portion `of this flange preferably overhangsfthe-outer wall of the groove 7 to an extent to shieldV the latter` in large part from injury due tocontact with obstructions.` i

This flange ismade in the form of 'a split ring, as` before, the closely abutting ends f thereof being illustrated at l2, and the bot:l

tom wall of the groove' isflikewiserprovided with apertures 17* and 18%* for'the reception of projections 15a and 16 carriedY by thel ends of the ring, the length' of' the apertures" being` the saine. Owing to the fact that the" flange 10l is to be reversible itis necessary that the projection` 15* project radially straight inward instead of being'curved'l laterally illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, and the walls of both' grooves 4 are likewise made' L straight and parallel'. The bodyof the pro` jection- 15" is therefore made/of a size sub! V stantia'lly to fill the aperturelito' which 'it"'is"' inserted, the forward end' of the projection being extended to-form al toe 51adaptedt'o,'I V engage beneathv the metal betweeirtheaper- V tures as illustrated in my former application end of the ring adjacent totheplojectionlj' 15% is 'loeveledas at 52 to permit theiinclina"` tion thereof in a forward direction whereby 'j the toe 51 is inserted and removed from thel jection'l already describedrand the conf` j struction and Voperation ofltlielatcl 31 is "l exactly" the same as that shoWn`in Fig. A3,

is disposed exactly "mid'way .between 'the' at each lside of the ivot so a's to perinit the 1 tch to be secur either in the position siown ipjFig. 7 or that shown in Fig.F 9. his constructionpermits thelfiange to be curedin either position as'yy'ill be obvious. i Itrwill be seenlth'at the projections 15 and .k are alikel in this respect: that each comprises a body'adapted to substantially lill the slot into which 1t is introduced, said body havin an extension oset from the line of its body so as 'to be hooked under the bottom wall of the-groove adjacent to the slot when the projection is fully seated and to be ung a l) hooked therefrom when the Harige and projection are ap ropriately inclined. With the construction i lustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 hereof this inclination is 'at right 'angles to Vthe plane of. the wheel, while in that illustrated in Figs. V7 5to 10 hereof and in my former' pplicationthis inclination necessarily takes acey within the plane of the wheel. The two ex edients are, however, essentially alike. urthermore the method of securing the projection 16 vin its slot is anim o rtant 1 feature of my invention entirely in ependently ofthe method of securing the other end of the ring 10, and I have attempted to bring=out this fact-in certain of my claims. It will'also be seen that the method of .se- ,curing the projection 16 in its slot resembles in some. degree the expedients disclosed in the former application in that each com* prises a member having a forwardly projecting toe adapted to be engaged to prevent the withdrawal of 4the projectionfrom the slot; although the lspeeiiic methods ofjatfer considerably.

taining and preserving this engagement dif- In Fig.' 11 I` have illustrated a stillA further expedient for securing ar detachable split ange to a rim, this expedient being applicable either to the case shown in Figs.

'1 to 6v wherein 4the flange is non`-reversible, or'to that shown in Figs. 7 to 9 wherein the groove is symmetric:ilesol as to permit rev'ersal. In this modification the wall of the groove is indicated at 9, #andthe flange atr- 10", the same being made in the form of a splitring havin .closely abutting ends 12.

4The bottom wal of the groove is formed with apertures 17 b and 18", which in the case o f a reversible flange are made of the 'same length, but in the case oa noni'eversible Aflange may be different lengths if desired.- The inner sideof the ring is provided adj acent to each o fits ends with a rojectionl", 16b of a sizeto tit snugly wit in its appropriate apertuye'and each having upon `its inner end anotch. 27 facing -the similar notch ofl the other projection.

Mounted upon la suitable pivot 30.A between these apertures is avilatchemember 31 having at. each side-a, lip 6'0; adapted -to engage onet of the notches 2 and also having an' extended I Figs. 8 and 10,.

resilient handle 61 adapted to dverli-'iie of the projections 16 theendof thefhandle being provided with a'stud 62 *ada tedto 'engage the recess 63 formed in the 4ottoni The projections 16", 16h, apertures 17", 18".,`

and lips 60, 60 being symmetrical, it is obvious that the flange can also be reversed in case the groove also-be symmetrical as in It is apparent that I have produced a construction of detachable flange of the most .extreme simplicity and which can be oper-F ated-With the greatest ease land With a very small number of tools. -I/t/is also apparent that a fiange constructed and .attached to a rim in accordance with my invention will be securely retained thereon under ali vpossible conditions of use and be removed with the utmost readiness without ohst'r'iictionby reason ofrust, sand, ice or other foreign matter. While I have necessarily described 4my invention in detail, and particularly pointed out the construction which appears preferable at the presenttineel do potprd pose to be limited to such details ornrestricted to such constructions except as the same may be positively included in the claims hereto annexed` or may be rendered necessary/f by the prior state of the art.

' Having thus described my invention, what 1. In a vehicle rim, in combination, an annular slotted tirewsupporting member, a split ring adapted to surround said member and having adjacent to each of its ends'a pipjeotion adapted toproject throughV said member,- on of'said projections having 'au extension displaced from its body and adapted to be engaged beneath the surface of said membervadjacent thereto, the'other of said projections `havin a toe projecting-from 'its Iforwardl end, an amovable latch adapted to be inserted between saidtoe and the inner surface of said annular member to vretain said last named projection in place.

1 Gir i 2, In a vehicle rim, in combination, an l annular tire-supporting member having a fixed flange at one side and-3iJ grooveat the other sidesaid groove havin a pair 'of slots through its bottom wall, a s lit ring adapted to surround said member, the `nner portion of said ring being shaped to t in said groovel and the outer portion to vengage a'. tire, each end of said ring-havin `tion adapted to enter one-of sai a projecof'said projections having an extension disslots, one

to the slot into which it is inserted and the other of said projections having a toe projecting from its forward end, and a movable latch adapted to engage said toe to retain said roject-ion in its slot. v

n a vehicle rim, in combination, an annular tiresupporting member having a pair of slots therethrough separated by a trans; verse web, a split ring adapted to surround `said member and having adjacent to each of its ends a projection adapted to enter one of said slots, one of said projections having a toe projecting from its forward end, the other of said projections being formed for interlocking engz-igement with said member,

and latch'means adapted Vto be inserted be tween said web and said toe for holding said projections in their' respective slots.

4. In a vehicle rim, in combination, a circular, radiallyv slotted, tire supporting member! a split ring adapted to surround said l'ne'linber and having adjacent to each of its ends an. internal lug adapted to project through saidfmember and to abut against the end wall of the slot into which it is inserted, means for securing one of said lugs in place, the other lug having upon its end nearest the end of the ring a forwardly projecting toe, and latching means carried by said member and adapted to be introduced beneath said toe whereby the opposite end of said lug will be maintained against its end Wall.

5. In a vehicle rim, in combination, an annular tiresupporting member having a pair of slots therein separated by a transverse web, a split ring adapted to surround said member and having adjacent t0` each of its ends a projection' adapted to .enter one of said slots, one oit said projections having an extension off-set from its'body for engaging the inner surface of said member when', said projetion is fully seated, the other projection h ving a notch in its forward end, and

latching meanspivoted to said web between said slots and adapted to engage said notch forretainin'r thelattcr projection in its slot. I 6. In a vehicle rlm, in combination, an annul-ar tire-supporting member having a slot therein, a split ring adapted to surround said member and having adjacent to one of itsends a nrojcctionadanted to entersaid slot, said projection havin" itsjrearward end inclined and also having a notch in one of its other faces, interengaging means carried by said member and ring for securing t against movement the end of said ring opposite to sald projectlon, a latchmg member pivoted to said annular member and havx `ing an end adapted toengage said notch for retaining said rejection `in said slot. Ihe

pther end of said latch being formed as an extended resilient handle, and interlocking "slot, a splitring'adapted `to',sl'irround`said nicmbeigand havin adjacent to one of its 'ends a projection at aptcd to enter said slot, said projection having a`forwardlyprojectf ing toc, interengaging means carried by said member and ring for securing against move ment the end of said ring opposite to said projection, a. latching member pivoted to said tire-supporting member adjacentto'said slot and having a ortion adapted for insertion beneath said) toe and also havin a handle portion adjacent to the inner sur ace of said member, and means forfsccuring said handle to said member and maintain said latch in engagement with said toc, whereby said projection is retained in said slot.

8. In a vehicle rim, in combination, a.

radiali,- slotted tire supporting member, a

'1nember, and means for engaging the other of said lugs to retain the same in place.

9. In a vehicle rim, in combination, a slotted annular tire-supporting member-,m split ring adapted to surround said member and having projections adjacent to its ends adapted to enter such slots, one of said project-ions having a lateral olf-set extension whereby the same may be inserted into, its slot when said ring is inclined to' the plane of' the annular member and will be mterlocked with the side of said slot when the ring is fully seated, theother of said projections being of a length to be inserted directly into its slot and having a notch in its forward end defining a rwardl projecting toc, and latchingmeans adapted to bc inserted into said notch to engage said toe and prevent said projection :from being Withdrawn.

10. In a vehicle rim, the combination-bf an annular tire-supporting member having an opening; a split ring ada pted to surround said member and provided with :i lug at one end adapted to project through such openmg, said lug having a forwardly projecting toe upon the side nearest the en ofthe lug; means for rigidlysecuring the other end of said ring toisaid. member; and afilatch, pivotally attached to `said member and adapted T6 1,278,4ao A 4 l l x t'o be insertedbeneeth said toe andf prevent saidming to said member, and a swinging ,its withdrawal from Said openin latoh, carried by said member, and adapted 11. In u vehicle rim, the com nation of to engage such notch.

an annular tire-'su porting member having In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my 5 an openlng; a sp it ring adapted tosursignature in the presence of two Witnesses. 15

round said-membe and provided with a lug at one enda-dapted to project through suh RICHARD S' BRYANT' opening, said lug having its rear fare beveled Wtneses: sind having 'a notch in its forward face; HAROLD V. SMITH,

1.9 means for xedly securmg the other end of I J D, HULL. 

